Sealing gland



A. E. L. SCANES ET AL SEALING GLAND Feb. 15, 1927. 1,617,500

Filed Jan. 13. 1920 ATTORNEY Patented lifeb. 15, 1927.l

UNITED STATES i J 1,617,500 PATENT oFFlc-E.)

ARTHUR EDWIN LEICH SCANES, F ASHTON-ON-MERSEY, AND THOMAS BRIGHOUSE,

0F MANCHESTER. ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENN- SYLVAN IA.

Application led January 18, 1920, Serial No. -351,179, and in Great IBritain -January 13, 1919.

This invention relates t0 liquid sealed glands for rotating shafts of the type 1n which a radfal contact face on a flange or collar fast on the rotating shaft cooperates 6 with another contact face formed on a member movably connected with the casing of the machine through which the shaft passes, a suitable sealing liquid, water for example, being introduced between said cooperating 10 faces, through ports and passages 1n the member movably connected with the casing of the machine. One or more pistons formed on the movable member and adapted to sli-de in a cylinder or cylinders formed in the machine casing to which sealing liquid is also supplied Provide for end play inthe shaft, the cooperating faces of the gland being maintained in proper relative position by spring pressure.

It has been found with this type of gland that the cylinders and pistons are apt'to wear with the result that the clearance increases necessitating the supply of an excessive amount of sealing liquid. The object of the present invention is to overcome this difficulty, and according thereto an annular buffer of suitable elastic material, such as' rubber is employed to form a liquid tight joint between the'lixed portion of the casing of the machine and the movable portion of the gland. j

In practice it is found that if the fixed portion is carefully adjusted on the shaft a very small movement of themovable portion of the gland occurs, and this movement is permitted by the compression and expansion of the annular buffer which at the same time forms a fluid tight joint between the machine casing and the movable portion of the gland. A

In one form of the invention the movable portion of the gland is maintained co-axial with the shaft by means of a guide which, while allowing axial movement, does not permit said movable portion to `come in contact with the shaft. In another form an annular groove is formed in the casinor of the machine in which one end of a rubber ring is placed, another annular groove being formed in the movable portion of the gland to receive the other end of the rubber ring, the latter being made of suiiiciently stout section to support the weight of the gland. The liquid required for sealingthe gland 4.sectional .and rotatable therewith is a flange or collar 4 provided with a radial' contact face 5. Said collar is conveniently formed in two parts clamped to the shaft by bolts passing through oriices in the two halves indicated at 6. 7 is an annular member hereinafter termed a gland ring loosely surrounding the shaft and conveniently formed in two halves united by bolts as indicated at 8. Said gland ring is prevented from rotating with the shaft by projecting lugs 7 a on each side ywhich engage in corresponding recesses 7b in a boss or projection from the machine casino' 3 and is provided with a radial contact Face 9 which is preferably formed of a hard non-metallic material, lignum-vitae for example, adapted to cooperate with the con tact face 5 of the flange 4. ,The gland ring has an internal cavity 10 to which a supply of sealing liquid is furnished through the pipe 11 and which communicates by a suitable number of ports 12 with the contact surface 9 so that sealing liquid can be supplied between the contact surfaces of the gland ring and the rotary flange. The gland ringis capable of a suitable amount of axial movement with reference to the casing 3 and 1n the arrangement shown 1n Flg. 1 is supported by an annular buffer 13 of elastic material such as rubber which is made of suiiiciently stiii' section to support the weight of the ring. For this purpose one end of the -annular buffer is received in agroove 14 in the gland ring7 and the other end is received in an annular recess 15 provided in a bushing 16 secured in the casing 3. The annular buii'- er 13 is suiiicient-ly elastic to permit small axial movements of the gland ring 7 with reference to the casing 3 and at the same time acts`to prevent fluid from entering or leaving the space within the casing along the Yrshaft and between the gland ring 7 and the radial face of the bushing 16. A shield 17 .lthe urpose of preventing splashinfy o 'sealilw liquid which `may be digcharged may be'` provided secured to the casing for any from between the Contact surfaces and 9.

. The bushing 16 may if desired be dispensed l with andthe recess 15 for receiving t Afrom the casing l Y one part of which is formed to 'receive' said e end of the buffer 13 will then be provided in -the boss or projection from the casing 3.

In Fig. 2 vthe gland ring 7 is supported means of a guide 18,

' gland ring and which is provided"with an annular projection 19 adapted to slidev on a corresponding annular projection 20 from the. casing. The elastic buffer 13 in this case does not in any way support the. land ring but is enclosed between a radial ace vof the guide 18v andthe casing-3 so as to form a uid-tight joint. l

A and escribed may be used as a thrust block when acertain amount of flexibility is required. In some cases it may befound advisable to have the rubber vor elastic ring 13 moulded to lsuch asection as will give the greatestv amount of elasticity possible. In other cases a rubber buffer of bobbin .section may be employed, additional elasticity. being impartedbymeans of suitable springs.

Although the .invention isillustrated as applied vto the shaft of a rotary airor vacuum pump it is. not limited in this respect but is applicable to other rotating shafts where liquid sealed glands are employed.

Having now particularly described yand ascertained the nature of our said invention and inwhat manner the same is to be performed, we declare that whatwe claim is 1. A land for sealing` the joint between relative y rotatable memberscomprising a collar provided on one member and having a contact face, a gland movable axially with. `respect to the collar and having a contact a flange on the shaft having a contacting 4face, a gland surrounding the shaft and having a contacting face cooperating Vwith ings and porti land constructed'i'n the manner shownthe face of the flange, said gland being movable axially with res ect to the-collar and having a hollow interior for the storage of sealingl li uid, a plurality of'passages provided in t e gland forconveying sealing liquid to the contacting faces, .a port communicating with the hollow interior for 'supplyiner sealing fluid thereto, said hollow interior forming a chamber entirely within the gland and closed except for said openand means for regiliently supporting the g and upon the stat onarymember, said resilient supporting means being imperforate and extenclin from the stationary member to -the glan tight closure therebetween.

p 3. A liquid sealing gl-and for a'. rotating 'shaft and a stationarymember comprising to form a fluida flange on the shaft-having 4a contacting face, a gland lsurrounding thepshaft vand having a contacting face cooperating with 'the' face ofthe flange, said gland" being movable axially with respect to the flange and having a hollow interiorfor containing sealing.' liquid, openings provided 'in the gland for conveying sealing .liquidA to `the contacting faces, a port communicating with -th'e hollow interior for supplying sealing fluid thereto, said hollow interior forminga chamber entirely within 'the glandA and closed except for said openings andport,

and resilient means interposed between the stationary member andthe gland for hold- J ing the Gland in contact with the collar.

4. A' 'shaft and a stationary member comprising `a flange on the shaft having a contacting face, a gland surrounding the shaft and having a contacting face cooperating with the face ofthe flange, said gland being movable axially with .respect to the flange and' having a hollow interior for containing sealing liquid, openings provided in the gland for conveying sealing liquid to the contacting faces, a port communicating with the hollowy interior for supplying sealing fluid thereto, said hollow interior. forming a chamber entirely within the gland and closed except for said openings and port, ar'l resilient means interposed between the stationary memberand the gland for holding the gland in'contact with thecollar, said resilient means being imperforate land extendliquid sealing gland for a rotating.

ing from the stationary member to the gland to form a fluid-tight closure therebetween.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed` my name this 4-eleventh day of December, 1919.

ARTHUR EDWIN LEIGI-I SCANES.

In testimony whereof, I. have hereunto subscribed my name this nineteenth day of December, 1919.

. THOMAS BRIGHOUSE. 

